PHOENIX – Spencer Torkelson broke the Pac-12 freshman home run record and the Arizona State Baseball team opened up their three-game weekend conference series against Washington with a walk-off 4-3 victory on Friday evening at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Gage Canning was the hero of the night for the Sun Devils, as he drilled a double into the left-center gap to score a hustling Torkelson from first in the bottom of the ninth inning. Canning's three-hit game marks his 11th 3+ hit performance this season, the second consecutive season he has reached double digits in this category. He is the first Sun Devil player to accomplish the feat in back-to-back season since Brett Wallace did it in 2007 and 2008.
Torkelson scored all four of ASU's runs in the 4-3 victory, becoming just the second Sun Devil to score four or more runs in a game (Gage Canning vs. Oregon, 5 runs).
With Washington choosing to play four outfielders on defense against him, Torkelson broke the Pac-12 record for freshman home runs in the bottom of the fifth inning as he sent a full-count pitch over the 410-foot marker in dead center to tie the game at 2-2. With the homer, he broke the tie he held for the Pac-12 all-time freshman mark with Jeff Clement (2003) and Gonzaga's Jeff Hainline (1984).
Torkelson's 22 home runs this season remain the national leader and tied for the most by any freshman in the NCAA in the BBCOR batting technology era (circa 2011). The 22 home runs are tied for the 13th most by any player since 2011. He is now five home runs shy of the ASU school record of 27 by Mitch Jones in 2000 and is four shy of Todd Greene's NCAA freshman home run mark of 26 at Georgia Southern in 1990.
After Washington got on the board with two runs in the second, ASU responded in the bottom of the third on a Carter Aldrete RBI single to plate Torkelson after his two-out walk to make it 2-1.
Canning and Torkelson would have a major impact in the Sun Devils taking their first lead in the game, coming through in the seventh inning. A lead-off single for Torkelson followed by a single through the right side by Canning put runners on the corners. Torkelson would come into score on a groundout by Carter Aldrete, putting ASU on top 3-2.
Alec Marsh got his ninth start of the season and continued to deal, as he becomes more comfortable with the role of Friday night starter. Marsh went deep into this one, giving way to Dellan Raish in the eighth inning after 7.1 innings of solid work. The right-hander struck out sixth while only giving up three runs, registering his fourth quality start in his five Friday night conference starts.
The Huskies tied it back up in the top of the eighth with a two-out single, but Raish would keep the game tied at three. With Raish delivering a scoreless inning in the top of the night, the Sun Devils would have an opportunity to walk-off with a run in the bottom of the ninth. They would have to do so, however, off of Huskies closer Alex Hardy. Hardy entered the contest with a 0.44 ERA in 11 appearances in conference play.
Unfazed by the pressure of the moment, freshman Spencer Torkelson showed maturity and patience at the plate, ripping a two-strike pitch into right field for a single. Up next, Gage Canning welcomed new Huskies reliever Josh Burgmann to the game with a first pitch double to the left-center field gap, scoring Torkleson who was on his horse from first. Arizona State captured their first walk-off victory of the season and now move to 11-11 in conference.
Raish earned the win, improving to 4-0 in Pac-12 games this season with those four victories good for third in the Pac-12 despite being a middle reliever from the Sun Devil bullpen.
The Sun Devils will continue the series against the Huskies on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. PT with the game scheduled to be streamed live through the Pac-12 Plus and broadcast over the airwaves on NBC Sports Radio 1060 AM.
Gage Canning was the hero of the night for the Sun Devils, as he drilled a double into the left-center gap to score a hustling Torkelson from first in the bottom of the ninth inning. Canning's three-hit game marks his 11th 3+ hit performance this season, the second consecutive season he has reached double digits in this category. He is the first Sun Devil player to accomplish the feat in back-to-back season since Brett Wallace did it in 2007 and 2008.
Torkelson scored all four of ASU's runs in the 4-3 victory, becoming just the second Sun Devil to score four or more runs in a game (Gage Canning vs. Oregon, 5 runs).
With Washington choosing to play four outfielders on defense against him, Torkelson broke the Pac-12 record for freshman home runs in the bottom of the fifth inning as he sent a full-count pitch over the 410-foot marker in dead center to tie the game at 2-2. With the homer, he broke the tie he held for the Pac-12 all-time freshman mark with Jeff Clement (2003) and Gonzaga's Jeff Hainline (1984).
Torkelson's 22 home runs this season remain the national leader and tied for the most by any freshman in the NCAA in the BBCOR batting technology era (circa 2011). The 22 home runs are tied for the 13th most by any player since 2011. He is now five home runs shy of the ASU school record of 27 by Mitch Jones in 2000 and is four shy of Todd Greene's NCAA freshman home run mark of 26 at Georgia Southern in 1990.
After Washington got on the board with two runs in the second, ASU responded in the bottom of the third on a Carter Aldrete RBI single to plate Torkelson after his two-out walk to make it 2-1.
Canning and Torkelson would have a major impact in the Sun Devils taking their first lead in the game, coming through in the seventh inning. A lead-off single for Torkelson followed by a single through the right side by Canning put runners on the corners. Torkelson would come into score on a groundout by Carter Aldrete, putting ASU on top 3-2.
Alec Marsh got his ninth start of the season and continued to deal, as he becomes more comfortable with the role of Friday night starter. Marsh went deep into this one, giving way to Dellan Raish in the eighth inning after 7.1 innings of solid work. The right-hander struck out sixth while only giving up three runs, registering his fourth quality start in his five Friday night conference starts.
The Huskies tied it back up in the top of the eighth with a two-out single, but Raish would keep the game tied at three. With Raish delivering a scoreless inning in the top of the night, the Sun Devils would have an opportunity to walk-off with a run in the bottom of the ninth. They would have to do so, however, off of Huskies closer Alex Hardy. Hardy entered the contest with a 0.44 ERA in 11 appearances in conference play.
Unfazed by the pressure of the moment, freshman Spencer Torkelson showed maturity and patience at the plate, ripping a two-strike pitch into right field for a single. Up next, Gage Canning welcomed new Huskies reliever Josh Burgmann to the game with a first pitch double to the left-center field gap, scoring Torkleson who was on his horse from first. Arizona State captured their first walk-off victory of the season and now move to 11-11 in conference.
Raish earned the win, improving to 4-0 in Pac-12 games this season with those four victories good for third in the Pac-12 despite being a middle reliever from the Sun Devil bullpen.
The Sun Devils will continue the series against the Huskies on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. PT with the game scheduled to be streamed live through the Pac-12 Plus and broadcast over the airwaves on NBC Sports Radio 1060 AM.